BeachLife music festival attendees evacuated amid high-wind warning
REDONDO BEACH — Thousands of music lovers filed peacefully, but disappointedly, out of the Seaside Lagoon BeachLife Festival grounds late Sunday afternoon as high winds buffeted the coast and the music event was put on pause for at least an hour.
The call to evacuate the outdoor Redondo Beach concert site came at about 5 p.m., said Redondo Beach Police Sgt. Mark Valdivia.
An evacuation order put on hold Day Three of Beachlife Festival on May 5, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
“We’ve asked everyone to evacuate for at least an hour while we assess the situation,” Valdivia said.
A wind advisory was in effect along the beach cities until 9 p.m. on Sunday, with wind speeds around 15 to 30 mph, and gusts up to 40 mph, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Sirard.
The action was initially called “a one-hour evacuation” with plans to call ticketholders back via social media, said Moreno, when the site was deemed safe.
As of 6:35 p.m., no announcement had been made about the status of the festival.
The winds grew stronger as Sunday went on — and really started picking up in the late afternoon, especially close to shore, at the LowTide stage where the longtime rock act ZZ Top was performing.
About 20 minutes after the band launched into its set, frontman Billy Gibbons, with his signature beard flapping in the gusts, exclaimed: “Can someone turn the fan down?”
At about 5:25 p.m., the band fled from the stage.
Thousands of fans soon followed suit, calmly flowing out of the festival grounds.
Dan and Nicole Brozost from Manhattan Beach had just arrived at BeachLife when the site was evacuated. They had not attended the prior two days and were on hand specifically to see the Trey Anastasio Band at 6:30 p.m. and My Morning Jacket at 7:50 p.m.
“We’re disappointed, but of course we understand safety comes first, ” Dan Brozost said.
Staff writers Hunter Lee, Michael Hixon contributed to this report
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Sugar Ray, performing May 5, is the only performer to take the stage at the BeachLife Festival every yearl in its five-year history in Redondo Beach. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Saxon Weiss performed on the SpeakEasy stage at the BeachLife Festival on Sunday, May 5 in Redondo Beach. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
The Grateful Dead tribute band Wall of Sound performed for the second time at the BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach on Sunday, May 5. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Incubus vocalist Brandon Boyd performs as part of the headlining act of Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Indie Rock band Local Natives perform at the High Tide stage during Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Indie Rock band Local Natives perform at the High Tide stage during Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Local Natives vocalist Taylor Rice performs at the High Tide stage during Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Local Natives guitarist Ryan Hahn performs at the High Tide stage during Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
The crowd enjoys Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Devo lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh performs at the Low Tide stage during Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Incubus vocalist Brandon Boyd performs as part of the headlining act of Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Singer Dustin Parks of Cydeways performs at the Riptide stage during Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
The crowd enjoys Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Incubus vocalist Brandon Boyd performs as part of the headlining act of Day Two of Beachlife Festival at Redondo Beach, CA on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins pictured performing with his cover band Chevy Metal at the 2019 BeachLife Festival. His son Shane Hawkins is now the band’s drummer two years after his father’s death. Chevy Metal returned to the BeachLife stage on May 4, 2024, with Shane Hawkins on drums. (photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Seal performs on the Hightide stage during the Beachlife music festival in Redondo Beach on Friday, May 3, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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